Walk the talk

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 01:54:34 -0400, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:

>On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 01:38:12 -0400, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:
>
>>Coincidentally enough, someone on alt.usage.english just asked about
>>another variant, "to walk one's talk". Factiva dates this one back to
>>1987, not surprisingly in the context of recovery from alcoholism:
>>
>>-----
>>Seattle Times, Jan 4, 1987, p. B1
>>"They know me, they trust me, I'm the only friend they've got," Dutch
>>said. "I'm no secret, they know I used to be one of them. They know I'm
>>an ex-drunk. I walk my talk. That means I do what I talk about. I do
>>what I can out there, not just talk about it. That's a phrase we have,
>>'walk your talk.'"
>>-----
>
>Sorry, missed this slightly earlier one:
>
>-----
>Advantage, Apr 1, 1985, p. 33 (Factiva)
>I learned a lesson a long time ago, that you've got to "walk your talk."
>[quoting Earl Swensson, founder of an architectural firm]
>-----

Last one, I swear!

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Seattle Times, Dec 3, 1984, p. C11 (Factiva)
The blackboard in the Juanita Rebels' Kingdome locker room said it all
after their 41-27 Class AAA title game win over South Kitsap. "WE WALKED
OUR TALK."
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--Ben Zimmer